March 10, 2026 · Environmental Conservation · 1,780 words · 4 speakers · 62 segments
Hi, everybody. I am New York State Senator Pete Harcom. I chair the Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation. We have been joined by Senators Rachel May, our ranker, Senator Dan Steck, Senator Kenzanieri Fitzpatrick and Senator Colombo. Welcome, everybody. We also have voting sheets from all of the other members. If you don't see your local senator here, do not disparage. They are not being lazy. This incredibly busy meeting, meeting here in the Capitol. And there are a number of other Senate committee meetings going on at the same time. We have their voting sheets. We have enough for a forum. I want to thank our central staff, Mike Malik, Nicole, Jose, Carissa. I want to thank my staff, Marie, Sarah and Zara, who are all here today. Zara. Excuse me. So with that, we have a 10 bill active list. How are you? I'm good, Chairman. Sorry, would you like to say anything before we get started, Mr. Rinker? It is a busy day, but all right, we're good. Good. It's a busy day, so let's get rocking and rolling. 10 bill active list. The first bill, 1610 by Senator Harkin.
Enactment of the Environmental Conservation Law in relation to requiring for construction activities that require state polluting Discharge Elimination System. Permit owners and operators to submit a copy of the required public notice.
All right. Questions, Comments, Concerns? Move the bill. All right, we have a motion. We have a second. All right, thank you. Motion, Second. All in fav. Any without rec. Any nays? All right. That bill will advance on the calendar. And we have been joined by Senator Hinchey. Welcome, Senator.
Thank you.
Thank you for joining us. Our next bill is 2411 by Senator Parker.
Next bill, the Environmental Conservation law in relation to bioheating fuel requirements.
Questions? Comments, concerns? I'll move it. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? A motion and a second. All in favor?
Aye.
Any without recommend. Any names? All right. That advances on the calendar. The next is 2493 by Senator Guinares.
An actual environmental conservation law in relation to the community air monitoring program.
All right. Questions, Comments, Concerns? All right. Do we have a motion? We have motion and a second. Thank you both. All in favor? Aye.
Aye.
Any without rec.
Without rec, please.
Two without recs. Any nay, One nay and one nay as recorded. But that bill, based on the vote sheets, will be advanced on the calendar. Our next bill, Senate Bill 3408 by Senator Comrie.
Next. Amend the environmental conservation law in relation to requiring air quality monitoring for certain major mass transportation projects.
Questions? Comments, Concerns? We have a motion. We have a motion. We have a Second. Thank you. Both. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec?
Without rec.
2 without rec. Any nays? All right, that will be referred to finance our next bill, Senate 3697A by Senator Sanders.
Next. Amend the environmental conservation law and the state finance law in relation to reporting of climate related financial risk and establishing a climate related financial risk disclosure fund.
All right, questions, comments, concerns? All right. Do we have a motion? We have a motion, Senator Hinchey. Second by Senator May. All in favor? Aye.
Aye.
Any without rec. All right, two without recs. Any nays? All right, that will be referred to finance. The next bill, 6765A by Senator Parker.
An act. Amend the environmental conservation law and the state finance law in relation to the proper collection and disposal of mercury thermostats. Amend Chapter 550 of the Laws of 2013, amending the environmental conservation law related to establishing the Mercury thermostat Collection act in relation to the effectiveness thereof.
All right, questions, comments, concerns?
Moving.
We have a motion. We have a second. And we've been joined by Senator Fahey. Welcome, Senator. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec. All right, two without rec. Any nays? All right, that will be referred to finance our next bill, 6831A by Senator Hinchey.
Next. Amend the navigation law in relation to financial responsibility for the liability of a major facility or vessel.
All right, questions, comments, concerns? Would you like to say anything on your bill?
Thank you for putting on the agenda. I hope the assembly will pass it.
We're happy to. Sweet bill. Thank you. Thank you. All right, do we. Questions? Comments, concerns? We have a motion. We have motion and a second. Thank you both. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec? One without rec. Any names? One. Nay. All right. So recorded. That bill advances on the calendar. Our next bill, 6879. Senator Ramos.
Next man. The environmental conservation law and the labor law in relation to establishing the New York Youth Climate Court.
All right. Questions, comments, concerns? Do we have a motion? We have a motion. Do we have a second? We have two seconds. Thank you very much. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec? One without rec. Any nays? All right, that is referred to finance the next bill, 7410 by Senator May.
An act directing the Department of Environmental Conservation to commission a comprehensive study on the retrofitting needs of schools located within 500ft of major highways to mitigate exposure to harmful air pollution.
All right, questions, comments, concerns? All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Great bill. Thank you very much. All in favor? Aye.
We'll share the second.
Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay.
No worries.
We're getting whiplash looking back and forth. Thank you very much. Second and a third. All in favor? Aye. Any without rec. Any nays? All right, that is referred to education. And then our final bill, 9011, 9115A by Senator Harcomb.
Max. Amend the environmental conservation law in relation to the management of PFAS and biosolids and some of the agriculture and markets law and the state finance law in relation to establishing the PFAS Agricultural Response Program and the agricultural PFAS Response Fund.
All right, thank you very much. Just a quick comment. This bill has been amended to address concerns the Farm Bureau had. And we put in the Farm Bureau's exact language. So they, they are now not opposing this bill. So that's always good.
Can you remind me if there was the farm.
If we put money in the one house we did, we put. The original plan was for the Senate to put in 10 million, the assembly to put in 10 million, it would be 10 million for the testing program. 10 million to make farmers whole. If there was a problem. I know we put in 10 million. I'm not sure if this are we doing. So move the bill
and I think
you've answered it, but certainly there would be some funding behind it because remediation costs would be massive.
Yeah.
In the event a farm, you know, has, you know, acres and acres and acres that need to be remediated. So I appreciate the establishment of that fund. And so the moratorium takes effect in this bill, no matter what the result may be. So if someone is still in the testing process and they haven't determined whether or not they actually have any biosolids or any PFAS within their. Within their soil. Because I know the state actually encouraged use of biosolids, and now we're kind of going sideways on that. So that, that's just a concern that I had.
Yeah. And therefore the bill. Right. There's also a period. What is that for what? For folks who are in the program not to be penalized. Am I correct?
So I guess a couple things. The moratorium is statewide, so it's regardless of whether someone has been affected. And then, you know, if they do find contamination on the land, then they would, you know, be able to. First of all, first of all, you don't have to test your land. If you're a farmer eligible, if you would like to test. And then if you do find PFAS on your land, then you'll be eligible for the program to help reimburse you or otherwise assist you with remediation and other activities.
So no matter what's done.
Yeah, five.
Got it. And the point we want to make to the public, though, is that a very small percentage of New York farms at this point have received direct biosolid applications. So we want New Yorkers to know that the food supply is safe. But this has become an issue in other states and we just want to be proactive.
And that's why I certainly appreciate it. I think there may be. I mean, it's farming, but would that also affect the application of it? Because I believe there's a sewage treatment plant that's doing it on a golf course, using it for irrigation in my district. So they would be affected as well, right?
That's correct.
Just making sure. Okay, thank you.
All right, other questions, other concerns, other comments. And we have been joined by our new member, Senator Bottra. Welcome. Good to see you. Thank you. And welcome to the committee. We look forward to your contribution to working with you.
Thank you.
Likewise. Great to see you. Thank you.
Senator Harcomb, I'll say thank you for being so collaborative on this bill, working with all the stakeholders, and if there's no other comments, I'm happy to move the bill.
Thank you for the motion, the nice comments, but thank you for the partnership and your relationships with the ag community. You know, it's always important that we work all angles on this, and you've been a great partner. So thank you. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? We have a second over here. Thank you. Senator Canzoneri, Fitzpatrick. All in favor? Aye.
Aye.
Any without rec. One without rec. Any nays? All right, this will be referred to finance. And that is the final bill and the conclusion of our meeting. Thank you all very much who are here. This is a great turnout in person and thank you for watching at home. And we'll see you in a couple of weeks. Thanks.